With Dastaan-E-Mohabbat: Salim Anarkali we will break the clutter: Manisha Sharma

Colors’ latest offering is a period love story set in the Mughal era – ‘Dastaan-E-Mohabbat: Salim Anarkali’. Presented by Dabur Red Paste and powered by MDH Deggi Mirch, the magnum opus tells the tale of Mughal prince Salim (Shaheer Sheikh) and Anarkali (played by Sonarika Bhadoria), who challenged the norm and choose to fight for their love. The show will premiere on October 1, 2018 and air every Monday to Friday at 8.30 pm. 

‘Dastaan-E-Mohabbat: Salim Anarkali’ has an ensemble cast with veteran actor Shahbaz Khan essaying the role of Akbar, Gurdeep Kohli Punjj plays Jodha, while Aruna Irani is Hamida Begum. Well-known television faces like Piyush Sahdev, Tasneem Sheikh and Parvati Sehgal will also be part of this show. 

The channel has planned an integrated 360-degree campaign that will witness an extensive play out of larger than life promos both across the network and on other broadcast channels. Across HSMs, the magum opus will be brought alive through billboards, whilst the daastan of love will be heard on radio as well. For print, there will be tune in ads on the day of launch. 

Furthermore, an Imaarat-e-Ishq, which is a beautiful monument, has been constructed in Delhi that doesn’t just tell the tale of love but listens too. Through this activation, Colors is looking for India’s biggest Daastan-E-Mohabbat. Taking over the Mumbai Metro stations, key locations will be branded and will witness the era come alive with an Anarkali Dance Flash Mob/ Mughal Arch Gates and branding. Tapping an unconventional medium of traditional clothing boutiques, Colors has also branded boutiques with the show creatives in Delhi. 

On the digital front, the channel has planned a high buzz activity on social media platforms like Facebook and Zapr, a 360-degree tour to bring audiences the spectacular sets, a dedicated Salim Anarkali photo gallery, and a motion graphic post. 

Bollywood set designer Omung Kumar has created the opulent set. The grand set spreads over 1 acre of land and boasts of a lavish darbar, a plush royal bedroom and an artistic harem to depict different scenes of the show. All the costumes have been crafted under designer Nidhi Yasha’s guidance. More than 200 people form part of the crew of this period drama. 

Commenting on the new show, Manisha Sharma, Chief Content Officer, Hindi Mass Entertainment, Colors, said, “Set against the historical backdrop, the show recounts the epic love story of prince Salim who is in love with a kaneez, Anarkali. The society’s disdain for this forbidden love, coupled with his father Akbar’s animosity makes Salim not only a rebel but also ready to relinquish the throne – thereby making this tragic tale a compelling story. We have roped in some fine actors like Shaheer Shaik, Sonarika Bhadoria, Gurdeep Kohli Punjj and Aruna Irani, among others, to play these larger than life characters. This unique narrative on Colors is sure to grip the viewers as it is a portrayal of an era that we have grown up both watching and reading about. It’s time to retell this evergreen love saga for this generation.” 

Writers Galaxy’s Anirudh Pathak, the producer and creator of ‘Dastaan-e-Mohabbat: Salim Anarkali’, added here, “The show brings in the dynamism of the Mughal Era and will depict the courtship of Salim and Anarkali. With advanced technology and great creativity, we are looking forward to give our audience a brilliant cinematic experience. Keeping in mind the grandeur of the show, we have the best team on board to help reflect this version of history that has greatly been written about.” 

Speaking to Adgully, Manisha Sharma and Anirudh Pathak elaborate on the conceptualisation of the show, the challenges faced and more. Excerpts: 

What is the rationale behind recreating this story on TV?
Manisha Sharma: There is no rational as such. I believe it is a beautiful story and that is why we wanted this to be showcased on Colors. We have given our own filter and it is slightly fictionalised, but at the same time we have kept a lot of historical facts at the backdrop alive. 

Anirudh Pathak: The only reason behind doing this story is that no one has done something around this story on television. It’s been ages that we have seen anything on the Salim-Anarkali love saga except in the movies. 

How you are making this show more contemporary to appeal to today’s viewers?
Manisha Sharma: It does not need to be contemporised. Love is not contemporary or outdated. A love story is a love story. There are too many contemporary love stories happening across the networks and that’s why we thought of coming out with this new story. 

Will it be a finite series?
Manisha Sharma: We have shot approximately 15-20 episodes. It will be finite or infinite as the rating goes. 

Will ‘Dastaan-E-Mohabbat’ replace ‘Udaan’, which has been doing quite well?
Manisha Sharma: This show is not replacing ‘Udaan’. But, yes, we will replace another show and ‘Udaan’ will be shifted to that slot. What I believe is that prime time has similar kinds of content right now and that’s is what we thought of doing a historical show. We had earlier aired ‘Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat’, which had worked very well for us, and now with ‘Dastaan-E-Mohabbat’ we will break the clutter. 

What is the budget for such a magnum opus?
Anirudh Pathak: (Laughs) The budget is too high! But for me, the budget is all about the story and how it works with the viewers. 

Given the magnitude of such a show, what were the challenges that you faced?
Anirudh Pathak: There were no challenges as such, because my show will tell the story of Ankarkali. We had seen in the past that stories are only created by the kings, but in ‘Dastaan-E-Mohabbat’, I will narrate how a common girl stood up against all odds to fight for her love.

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